President Donald Trump signed a bill on Wednesday enabling the release of all unclassified records related to the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, including internal communications and materials referencing Trump. The measure, which passed the House with a 421-1 vote, was backed by both Republicans and some Democrats following months of pressure. The bill also includes files related to Ghislaine Maxwell, who is serving a 20-year sentence for sex trafficking. The release is expected within 30 days, though some materials may be redacted to protect sensitive information. Trump claimed the move was to move on from what he called a ‘Democrat hoax’ and to ensure transparency, despite objections from some lawmakers who warned of potential risks to whistleblowers.
The House voted Tuesday to release the files by a 421–1 margin, following pressure for months from the measure’s ringleaders, Reps. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., and Ro Khanna, D-Calif., and other Democrats. Rep. Clay Higgins, R-La., was the only House member to vote against the release, citing concerns about revealing identities of witnesses and undercover officers. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., while voting in favor, voiced similar concerns during a press conference, warning that the release could deter future whistleblowers and informants. The bill passed the Senate by unanimous consent, moving the files toward public release.
The Epstein Files Transparency Act specifically directs the Justice Department to release all unclassified records and investigative materials related to Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, as well as files related to individuals referenced in Epstein’s legal cases, details on trafficking allegations, internal DOJ communications, and any information on the investigation into his death. Files containing victims’ names, child sex abuse materials, classified materials, or other content that could threaten active investigations may be withheld or redacted. Attorney General Pam Bondi announced that the Justice Department would comply with the law, releasing the documents online in a searchable format within 30 days.
The push for transparency has intensified after Democrats on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee released three emails from Epstein’s estate that mentioned Trump. In turn, Republicans released 20,000 pages of Epstein documents, including emails between Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, as well as correspondence with author Michael Wolff and former President Barack Obama’s White House counsel Kathy Ruemmler. In one email, Epstein mentioned Trump, claiming that he had not been ‘mentioned’ in previous reports, though the statements remain unverified and uncorroborated. Trump has not faced formal accusations of misconduct tied to Epstein, and no law enforcement records connect him to Epstein’s crimes. Epstein died by suicide in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal charges, with Maxwell currently serving a 20-year sentence for sex trafficking.